Polyhouse farming · West Bengal

Polyhouse Farming in Howrah

Monthly climate, crop windows and nearby markets for a polyhouse farm in Howrah, with a well-ventilated polyhouse for humid heat.

Kryzen Biotech ಸಂಸ್ಥಾಪಕ ಸುಧೀರ್ ದೇವ್ಕರ್

By Sudhir Devkar, Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

Updated · 5 min read

Polyhouse farming in Howrah: aerial view of a large protected cultivation farm with polyhouses

Planning polyhouse farming in Howrah? Howrah is a city of about 10.8 lakh people (Census 2011) in Howrah district, West Bengal[1]. We have used the monthly climate for Howrah to plan a structure, a growing system and a crop calendar, so you can compare them with your own plot and buyers.

Climate for polyhouse farming in Howrah

April is the hottest month in Howrah, with average daily highs of about 38°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 10°C.[2] The area gets about 1,567 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to October, peaking in July at about 333 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to November, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Howrah sits about 9 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Howrah falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]

Howrah climate by month

MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Humidity (%)Rain (mm)
Jan24.410.26513
Feb29.614.55720
Mar34.919.85531
Apr38.124.36050
May36.926.267144
Jun33.126.780231
Jul31.226.187333
Aug30.725.889308
Sep30.225.289259
Oct29.722.484146
Nov27.216.67823
Dec24.111.4749
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Howrah. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]

Advantages of protected cultivation in Howrah

  • ವರ್ಷವಿಡೀ ಬೆಳೆಗಳು

    A polyhouse stretches the season: in Howrah cucumber can be grown for about 7 months a year under cover, longer than in the open field.

  • ಉತ್ತಮ ಇಳುವರಿ ಮತ್ತು ಬೆಲೆ

    Plants grow without rain, hail and wind damage, so yields are higher and more even, and clean, graded produce sells at a better price, especially off-season.

  • ಕಡಿಮೆ ನೀರು

    Drip irrigation under cover uses less water than flood irrigation, and the roof keeps July's 333 mm of rain off the crop and the soil.

  • Less pesticides

    Insect net on vents and doors keeps out most pests, and controlled ventilation helps with leaf disease in the humid months (June to November), so you spray less often.

  • ಸಬ್ಸಿಡಿಗೆ ಅರ್ಹ

    Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in West Bengal can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[4]

Which polyhouse suits Howrah?

For polyhouse farming in Howrah, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. In Howrah the heat comes with humidity: during March to June average humidity is about 66%. Wet pads cool much less in humid air: on a typical April afternoon they would only bring 38°C down to about 33°C. So we usually start with a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide roof vents, insect net and a shade screen. A Fan & Pad polyhouse still makes sense if buyers need lettuce through the hottest months, but expect a smaller temperature drop than in dry inland towns.

Protected structures to compare

Plan for heavy rain in July (about 333 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. A nethouse, the lowest-cost option, can grow hardy crops in November to February, when it is mild and fairly dry.

Crops for Howrah

Based on Howrah's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (7 months), tomato (6 months) and chilli pepper (6 months). Cucumber fits February and June to November in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Lilium and broccoli are hard to time here, so we would leave them out of the first season. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Howrah.

Months each crop suits in Howrah

ಬೆಳೆನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ವಾತಾಯನದ ಪಾಲಿಹೌಸ್With Fan & Pad cooling
ಕ್ಯಾಪ್ಸಿಕಂFeb and Aug–NovFeb–Mar and Jul–Nov
ಟೊಮೆಟೊSep–FebSep–Mar
ಸೌತೆಕಾಯಿFeb and Jun–NovFeb–Nov
Chilli pepperFeb and Jul–NovFeb–Nov
ಬದನೆFeb and Jul–NovFeb–Nov
ಲೆಟ್ಯೂಸ್Nov–JanOct–Mar
ಬ್ರೊಕೊಲಿDifficultNov–Feb
ಸ್ಟ್ರಾಬೆರಿDec–JanDec–Feb
ಗುಲಾಬಿNov–JanNov–Mar
ಜರ್ಬೆರಾNov–JanOct–Mar
ಕಾರ್ನೇಷನ್Dec–JanNov–Feb
ಸೇವಂತಿಗೆNov–JanNov–Mar
ಆಂಥೂರಿಯಂOct–NovMar and Jun–Nov
ಆರ್ಕಿಡ್‌ಗಳುOct–NovMar and Jun–Nov
ಲಿಲಿಯಂDifficultNov–Feb
Kryzen planning estimate from the monthly averages above and each crop's usual day and night temperature range. Variety, soil or substrate temperature and shading change the result, so confirm with a trial.

Suggested crops for Howrah

Selling your harvest in and around Howrah

10.8 lakhPeople in Howrah (Census 2011)[1]
₹5,903Spending per person per month, urban West Bengal, 2023–24[5]

The Census counted 10.1 lakh people in Howrah in 2001 and 10.8 lakh in 2011, a rise of 7%.[1] Urban households in West Bengal spent an average of ₹5,903 per person per month in 2023–24, below the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[5] A city of this size has hotels, restaurants, modern retail and quick-commerce stores within its own limits, so most harvests can be sold locally. Line up two or three buyers before planting and agree on grade and delivery days.

Polyhouse farming in Howrah with Kryzen

We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (ಹೊಸ ಟ್ಯಾಬ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ತೆರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ)). Howrah is about 1,380 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.

Towns near Howrah

We also plan and build farms in these towns near Howrah:

Map of West Bengal

Check other locations in West Bengal

We have farm planning pages for 63 towns in West Bengal, each with its own climate, crops and market notes.

All West Bengal locations

Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.

Polyhouse farming in Howrah: FAQs

Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Howrah?

Yes, with the right structure. For Howrah we would plan a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide vents and insect net. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in April to September, so plan another crop for those months.

Which polyhouse is best for Howrah?

With April highs of about 38°C and 60% average humidity in that month, we would start with a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide vents and insect net.

Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Howrah?

Going by the monthly climate, cucumber, chilli pepper and brinjal have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.

Is polyhouse farming profitable in Howrah?

It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Howrah, cucumber and tomato have the longest seasons under cover. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers first; our Detailed Project Report works out the cost, yield and returns for your plot.

Does Kryzen build polyhouses in Howrah?

Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,380 km away, and we have built 2 projects in West Bengal.

Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in West Bengal?

Yes. Protected cultivation projects in West Bengal can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department. Check the current rate and area limit when you apply.

Discuss your Howrah farm project

Share your plot location, water test and crop targets. We will suggest the right structure and growing system, and send an itemised quotation.

ಸುಧೀರ್ ದೇವ್ಕರ್

ಸುಧೀರ್ ದೇವ್ಕರ್

Founder & CEO, Kryzen Biotech

A computer engineer turned hydroponic farmer from a multigenerational farming family in Satara. Sudhir founded Kryzen in 2019, and the team has since built 350+ protected and hydroponic farms across India.

Sources

  1. ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾ · Howrah (ಹೊಸ ಟ್ಯಾಬ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ತೆರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ)
  2. NASA Langley Research Center · POWER Climatology API: long-term monthly averages (ಹೊಸ ಟ್ಯಾಬ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ತೆರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ)
  3. Rubel & Kottek, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna · World map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification (ಹೊಸ ಟ್ಯಾಬ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ತೆರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ)
  4. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare · Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) (ಹೊಸ ಟ್ಯಾಬ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ತೆರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ)
  5. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) · Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023–24: press note (ಹೊಸ ಟ್ಯಾಬ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ತೆರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ)